All Heart, No Meat

Billed as “the spiritual successor to Flight of the Concords ”, Kiwi comedy web series Immi the Vegan is an insightful and heartfelt ode to all things love, life and veganism. A wonderful soundtrack comes courtesy of show co-writer and producer Immi Paterson who knows a thing or two about penning catchy numbers having fronted the band George and Queen during the mid-2000s. Taking on the eponymous lead of the online show was, however, Immi’s fi rst stint at acting, not that you’d ever know. Verve sat down with her for a cup of tea on K’ Road (where much of the show was fi lmed) to fi nd out more.

Was there a speci c incident that turned you towards veganism?

“It was gradual having fi rst became vegetarian when I was 10 years old. I had always been aware of the relationship between humans and animals, and it was something that I’d always thought about, but when I found a vein in my steak mince pie, that was it.”

Immi describes herself as an “anxious, perfectionist” child, who could be “hard on herself and others”, foibles, she jokes, that she has passed on to her 11-year-old son, Melvin (who also has a small cameo in one episode). “He likes a lot of the show, but not the crass parts,” giggles Immi. “He disapproves of the dick jokes!”

Did you raise him to be vegan?

“Absolutely. But rather than show him the horror side of things, like what goes on in factory farming, I always showed him the positive side of veganism, like taking him to animal sanctuaries.”

Immi, who grew up in Dunedin, says her parents were always supportive of her meat-free life, though her dad especially thought veganism was phase she would likely grow out of. Until, that is, she converted him too.

“I hate to use the word ‘converted’ because it’s patronising—everyone makes their own decisions— but I do believe that you can infl uence people. I challenged my dad to make a vegan Christmas dinner—he’s a really good cook—and so he did. And he’s been vegan ever since.”

Is your dad an old-school ‘man’s man’? “Not really. He’s a university lecturer, very left-wing, a door-knocker for the Greens. So, I don’t know why he didn’t do it earlier really, he was just being grumpy!”

How are your cooking skills? “Adequate! Everything will be cooked properly, wellbalanced, and nutritious. Will it look good? Probably not. I am actually thinking of doing a comedic vlog series called Immi the Lazy Vegan , about my honest attempts at cooking and hating it.”

Have you always been a creative soul?

“The music started when I was about 14. Mum had a bunch of instruments that she didn’t like anybody to touch, but I remember during a rebellious phase getting really mad and strumming the hell out of this guitar and loving the feeling. My grandmother then really encouraged me and bought me my fi rst electric guitar, I learnt three chords and joined a band! Later I did a music degree and was also a music teacher for a while. My grandmother has always been so supportive—she even helped fund Immi the Vegan .” Immi has been vegan since 2004, the food industry has come a long way since then, and so too have people’s attitudes. “There used to be a real stigma around veganism,” she laments. “People often think that vegans consider themselves more superior, which, although unfair, is also slightly true! You do sometimes think that you’re a little further along in that way of thinking, but only in that one specific area, and wonder why the rest of the world hasn’t caught up.”

One of the show’s main themes is Immi’s attempt to find a vegan boyfriend, and I ask if she would date a meat-eater in real life.

“I give people a chance,” she says. “I met my partner Steve online around the time we were fi lming, and his profi le said that he was open to veganism. He actually went vegan without telling me because he wanted to see how he went.”

There’s an amusing line about someone having ‘meat breath’, is that really a thing?

“No, but the idea of someone eating a whole lot of meat then me putting my mouth to it is quite off - putting! Steve and I actually shared our first kiss during his secret vegan trial period.”

How did that go?

“I told him that he tasted like a vegan.”